The last two gas-powered Cadillac sedans, the CT4 and CT5, could be traded in for a pair of EVs. GM reportedly has no plans for a next-gen Cadillac CT4 or CT5 with an internal combustion engine, but an electric version could replace it.
Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans could return as EVs
Cadillac is coming off its best sales year since 2016. The luxury brand’s impressive growth last year is all thanks to sales of the Lyriq, Cadillac’s electric SUV, surging over 200%.
GM sold over 28,400 Lyriqs last year, significantly more than the 9,154 it sold in 2023. With the Escalade IQ, Optiq, and Vistiq rolling out this year, Cadillac will have a luxury electric SUV in every segment.
Meanwhile, sales of Cadillac’s gas-powered CT4 (-32.1%) and CT5 (-20.1%) dropped by double-digits last year. Although GM is still planning to launch 2026 models, they might not be around much longer than that.
Sources familiar with the matter told GM Authority that the next-gen Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans are not part of the plans. At least not with an internal combustion engine. Cadillac will likely still introduce a pair of sedans in the future, but they are expected to be EVs.
The EVs will reportedly be closer in size to the CT5 and already retired CT6. Both are expected to launch overseas in places like Europe as Cadillac expands into new markets.
In addition, the report claims that Cadillac’s upcoming EV sedans will ride on a new “BEV Prime” platform, believed to be an upgraded version of the BEV3 platform. The BEV3 platform underpins Chevy’s Blazer and Equinox EVs, as well as the Cadillac Lyriq, Vistriq, and Optiq SUVs.
The new EV sedans may not look the same with an expected fastback design, similar to the Cadillac Escala Concept.
Electrek’s Take
Top comment by BCV
Seems plausible. GM is on record saying that they're happy with their manufacturing footprint. They don't plan to add new factories, but repurpose existing ones as the fleet electrifies.
GM has already retired the Chevy Malibu and Cadillac XT4, so killing off the gas-powered CT4 and CT5 wouldn’t be a surprise.
With sales dropping by double-digits in 2024, the luxury sedans are due for an upgrade. Although Cadillac backtracked on plans for an exclusively EV lineup by 2030, it still plans to offer a model in every segment.
Cadillac’s marketing director, Brad Franz, told CNBC this week that the luxury brand aims for EVs to make up 30% to 35% of total US sales in 2025. That would be nearly double the 18% it achieved last year. Cadillac wants to be the top-selling luxury EV brand in the country, but it does not include Tesla in its definition of “luxury.”
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